Preformed floor construction for buildings



H. HASENBURG ER ET AL 2,297,057

Sept. 29, 1942.

PREI ORMEb FLOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR BUILDINGS Filed June 18, 1940 Fig. 1.

Henry Hdfnetl Harvey Wiley Corbett 33M;

Patented Sept. 29, 1942 PREFORMED FLOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR BUILDINGS Henry Hasenburger, Newark, N. J., and Harvey Wiley Corbett, New York, N. Y., assignors to Prebilt Housing Corporation, New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of Ohio Application June is, 1940, Serial No. 341,146

6 Claims.

This invention relates to building construction and is particularly directed to an improved method of and means for securing flooring to an underlying supporting framework. The invention is especially applicable to prefabricated building construction wherein the entire building is formed from units produced by factory methods and assembled on the building site, but the principles may be employed with equal facility in structures built according to present construction methods.

Fundamentally, the invention is concerned with the formation of floor or other wall panels and means for attaching the same to the building framework quickly, easily and without requiring special tools or unusually experienced or specially trained workmen.

Similar floor panels and means for efiecting the attachment thereof to a building framework have been illustrated in our copending application, Serial No. 327,840, filed April 4, 1940, of which this application is a continuation-in-part.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved floor panel unit and means whereby the panel may be secured at one edge to the underlying joints, the opposite edge of the unit being retained through interlocking engagement with the next previously applied unit.

Another object resides in the provision of a floor panel having a plurality of recesses formed in one side edge for the reception of angular clip members which in turn receive elongated springlike straps, the latter being held in a flexed condition to retain the floor panel in proper position by pin or bar elements carried by the underlying framework of the floor.

Still another object rests in providing the slotted edge of the floor panel with an overhanging lip or tongue under which a similar complemental tongue on the next adjacent, panel may be positioned, thus making it necessary to provide securing means at one edge only of the panel and utilizing the edge of one panel to prevent accidental displacement of the clip means of the adjacent panel.

Another object resides in the provision of a floor panel having a backing member to which the flooring proper may be secured and providing angle clips for engagement with at least one edge of the backing member, the clips having slotted flanges disposed at right angles to the joist members of the building framework and receiving spring strips employed to retain the floor panels in assembled order, the joists being provided with registering sockets for the reception of manually inserted pin members which engage the end portions of the spring strips and maintain them in a flexed condition.

An object also resides in forming one end of each spring strip with a sleeve-like eyelet to receive one of the pin members whereby a plurality spaces between the blocks 3 and. the upper edges of spring strips may be partially assembled with the framework prior to positioning any floor panels thereon.

A more complete understanding of the invention may be had from the following description and the accompanying drawing in which one form of the invention has been illustrated in detail.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a portion of a floor installation embodying the present invention,-the plane of the section extending parallel to joist members forming a part of the building frame to which the floor is secured;

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in horizontal section illustrating a. portion of a floor panel, the joist members of the framework and the means for securing the floor panel to the joist members;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the joist members and showing the edge of a floor panel and the means for securing the same in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional perspective view of a floor panel and the means for securing the panel to the building framework;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view showing a portion of a modified form of panel having a. continuous recess for the reception of securing elements;

. Fig. 6 is a similar view disclosing an edge portion of a panel having notches provided therein for the reception and location of the securing clips.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designates generally the framework of a building to which the floor construction forming the subject matter of the invention is applied. The framework I includes a pair of transversely spaced boards 2 which form a part of a prefabricated joist such as are illustrated in a copending application, Serial No. 329,144 filed April 11, 1940. The board members 2 are maintained in their spaced relation by a plurality of longitudinally spaced blocks 3, the upper surfaces of which are disposed in spaced relation from the upper edges of the boards 2. The

of the boards 2 are provided with registering perforations for the reception of pin members 4 employed to secure portions of the floor retaining means in proper positions.

The preformed floor units designated at 5 are positioned on th upper edges of the joist members, a sheet or strip 6 of insulating material such as felt being disposed between the under surfaces of the panels and the upper edges of the boards 2. g

This material serves to reduce friction between the floor panels and the joistsanol thereby 'elirninates noise which might otherwise develop if rel the joist sections '2 and additional pins inserted 1 in the registering sockets above the free ends of ative movement took place between these elemerits.

Each panel 5 includes a plurality of'strips I of suitable material, hardwood flooring being preferable, although other materials such as soft wood or composition materials may beused.

In the form illustrated, the strips are provided with tongue and groove edges which interfit and provide secure joints between the strips. The panels produced by assembling thestrips asilluss trated are provided with a backing orbase 8 composed of plywood or some similarpreformed sheet material which is; relatively light in weight but will be greatly-resistant to breakage and capable of receiving nails, screws or other elements used .to-secure the strips 1 thereto.

The longitudinal edge at one side of each panelis provided with a tongueor lip 9, the upper surface of which is disposed below-the upper surface of the panel, the tongue projecting beyond the edge of the panel to provide a shoulder 10. The tongue 9 is formed for disposition under an overhanging tongue II formed on an adjoining panel on the side opposite the tongue 9. The edge of the panel provided with the overhanging tongue II is formed with a plurality of longitudinallyspaced recesses I2 which may be-formed either between the strip- 1 and th base 8 or entirely in either, depending upon the desires of the manu-facturer. r

While the recess I 2 in this. instance-has been illustrated as having an arcuate inner side, this recesscould extend continuously along the edge of the panel as at I2a in Fig. 5 if such a construction was found desirable.

,By formingthe panel as shown in Fig. 5, the edge strip 7a will have a recess 12a coextensivetherewith and no'specialattention is necessary in placing the panel as the clips IS- may be inserted anywhere along theside edge thereof.

Preferably, however, the recesses are so located that they will register with the space between the boards 2 of a joist. The recesses are provided for 1 the reception of one flange I3 of an angular clip I4, the second flange of which projects downwardly from the panel into the space between the boards 2 of anadjacent joist. Usually, the panels are arranged so that the strips I xtend transversely of the joists and if so arranged, the flange I4 will be disposed at right angles to the boards 2.

In the portion ofthe flange I4 which extends below the panel, a slot I5 is provided for the reception of a metallic strip I6 which is preferably formed of spring steel and has a sleeve-like eyelet I1 provided at one end. The eyelet receives one of the pin members 4 when the flooring is being assembled with the frame structure. If desired, all the spring strips for an entire installation may be positioned between the joist members prior to the disposition of any of the floor Panels thereon. If this method of procedure is used, the spring strips willeither hang downwardly between the joist sections 2 or rests the springs to retain them in their flexed condition wherein the floor panels will be maintained in firmly seated engagement with the upper edges 'of the joists. 7

In the form of spring strip illustrated, the end opposite that having the sleeve I1 is bent as at L8 to provide an angularly directed portion, This portion permits the spring to be flexed downwardly a distance sufficient to permit the insertionof the pin 4. when the spring is disposed over the blocks 3. If such blocks were not positioned adjacent the sockets, the bending of the spring strips to produce the angularly directed portion would not be necessary.

If it is desiredto insert the spring strips at the same time the floor panels are being laid, each end of such spring strips could be provided with angularlydirected portions in place of having one end formed with the eyelet.

While the members 4 are specified in this description as being pin members, nails of the proper diameter and: length, as illustrated, couldbe employed, the sockets being of such size that the nails may be inserted therein without requiring the use of a hammer or other implement. If it is desired to locate the clips longitudinally with respect to the panels, notches t9 conforming in width to the clips may be formed in the edge of the base member 8a at points where the clips will be positioned when the flooring is installed.

From Fig. 1, it will be apparent after a floor panel has beensecured to the supporting frame,

w that a second floor panel can be positioned with its side in abutting relation to the side of the panel previously secured, at which time the shoulder I0 .on the second panel will engage the under surface of the overhanging tongue on the first panel and through this engagement, the second panel be maintained in firm engagementwith the joists. The free edge of the second applied panel may be secured with similar clips and springs. By insertingthe tongues 9' of subsequently applied panels between-thejoistsand the overhanging tongues of previously appliedpanels, the clips I3 will be precluded from moving out of the recesses whereby the panels might be released.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that means have been provided by which floor panels may be quickly and easily secured to underlying frame structures without necessitating th employment of nails, screws or-other securing elements inserted when installing the floor. Since no special skill is required in positioning th clips andsprings, the floors provided by this invention may be installed by relatively unskilled labor and yet satisfactory uniform results will be secured. By forming the panels under factory methods and installing them with the attaching means set forth herein, speed in erection may be attained which is not possible under the ordinary methods of construction wherein the flooring strips are individually nailedto the sub-framework.

While the invention has been illustrated connection with preformed joist members, it is obviou that the method and means of attaching floors illustrated and described in this application could be readily employed in buildings having frameworks formed under conventional methods.

From Fig. l of the drawing, it will be apparent that the force exerted by the spring 16 may be variedby changing the location of the sockets for the reception of the pins 4.

While but a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is obvious that many minor changes ma be made in the construction and relation of part without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In floor construction of the type having a plurality of panels provided with lapped edges, means for securing said panels to a supporting frame comprising an angle clip, the side edge of the overlapping panel being slotted to receive one flange of said angle clip, the other flange extending downwardly and being provided with an opening, a spring strip extending through the opening in said clip, and means carried by the supporting frame for anchoring the ends of said strip.

2. In floor construction, a plurality of spaced joist members having registering spaced sockets,

a floor panel disposed on th upper edges of said e joist members, said panel having a recess in one edge, an angle clip having one flange disposed in said recess, th other flange of said angle extending between said joist members and being at right angles thereto, the latter flange having an opening formed therein, a flexible strip member extending through the opening in said clip in parallel relation to said joists, and pin members positioned in the sockets in said joists and extending therebetween, said pin members engaging the end portions of said strip member to hold the same in a flexed condition whereby movement of said panel away from said joists will be precluded.

3. In floor construction, a plurality of spaced flexible holding strip extending parallel to the joists and through the opening in said clip flange, and pin members disposed in registering sockets in said joists, said pin members engaging the end. portions of said holding strip and maintaining the same in a flexed condition.

4. In floor construction, a plurality of spaced joist members having spaced sets of registering sockets, a floor panel disposed on the upper edges of said joist members, one sid edge of said panel being disposed between said sets of sockets and having a recess provided therein, said panel edge being disposed in closer relation to the sockets positioned thereunder, a clip member having angularly disposed flanges, one flange of said clip being positioned in said recess and the other extending downwardly between said joists, the latter flange having an opening formed therein, a flexible holding strip extending parallel to the joists and through the opening in said clip flange, an eyelet provided at one end of said holding strip, and a pair of pin members disposed in the sets of sockets in said joists, one of said pin members extending through the eyelet in said holding strip and the other extending over the opposite end portion of said strip and serving to hold the strip in a flexed condition.

5. In floor construction, spaced joist means, a floor panel positioned on the upper edges of said joists, said panel having a recess in one edge, securing means for said panel comprising an angle plate having one flange thereof disposed in said recess and the other flange extending into the space between said joists, pin means projecting laterally from said joist means, and flat leaflike spring means pivotally carried by said pin means and cooperating with the second flange of said angle plate to exert downward force on said panel.

6. In floor construction, spaced joist means, a floor panel positioned on the upper edges of said joists, said panel having a recess in one edge, securing means for said panel comprising an angle plate having one flange thereof disposed in said recess and the other flange extending into the space between said joists, pin means projecting laterally from said joist means, and flat leaflike spring means carried by certain of said pin means and underlying the other, the intermediate portion of said spring means engaging the second flange of said angle plate and exerting a downward force thereon.

HENRY HASENBURGER. HARVEY WILEY CORBETT. 

